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Second Circuit Grants Plaintiff IFP Status
The U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals held that a pro se plaintiff
seeking to file civil rights actions should have been permitted to proceed
in forma pauperis. Carl Potnick sought to file two pro se civil rights
actions in district court and requested leave to proceed in forma pauperis.
The district court denied his request, and he appealed.
The Second Circuit reversed and remanded holding that Potnick, who had "a
monthly income of $181 in welfare benefits, $41 in food stamps, a checking
account balance of $59.77," and owed $3600 on his car and $10,000 in other
debts, was sufficiently indigent to warrant in forma pauperis status.
[Note: The PLRA has modified the IFP standard for prisoners, but the law is
still good for non-prisoner litigants]. See: Potnick v. Eastern State
Hospital, 701 F.2d 243 (2nd Cir. 1983).
seeking to file civil rights actions should have been permitted to proceed
in forma pauperis. Carl Potnick sought to file two pro se civil rights
actions in district court and requested leave to proceed in forma pauperis.
The district court denied his request, and he appealed.
The Second Circuit reversed and remanded holding that Potnick, who had "a
monthly income of $181 in welfare benefits, $41 in food stamps, a checking
account balance of $59.77," and owed $3600 on his car and $10,000 in other
debts, was sufficiently indigent to warrant in forma pauperis status.
[Note: The PLRA has modified the IFP standard for prisoners, but the law is
still good for non-prisoner litigants]. See: Potnick v. Eastern State
Hospital, 701 F.2d 243 (2nd Cir. 1983).
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Related legal case
Potnick v. Eastern State Hospital
| Year | 1983 |
|---|---|
| Cite | 701 F.2d 243 (2nd Cir. 1983) |
| Level | Court of Appeals |
| Attorney Fees | 0 |
| Damages | 0 |
| Injunction Status | N/A |
Potnick v. Eastern State Hospital, 701 F.2d 243 (2nd Cir. 02/28/1983)
[1] UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT
[2] No. 82-7076, No. 498 -- August Term, 1982
[3] 1983; 701 F.2d 243
[4] decided: February 28, 1983.
[5] CARL D. POTNICK, PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT,
v.
EASTERN STATE HOSPITAL, DEFENDANT-APPELLEE; CARL D. POTNICK, PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT, V. SUFFOLK POLICE, DEFENDANT-APPELLEE
[6] Consolidated appeals from two orders of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Dudley B. Bonsal, Judge, denying plaintiff-appellant's applications for leave to proceed in forma pauperis.
[7] Thomas J. Moloney, New York, New York, for Plaintiff-Appellant.*fn**
[8] Mansfield and Meskill, Circuit Judges, and Neaher, Senior District Judge.*fn*
[9] Author: Per Curiam
[10] Appellant, as plaintiff pro se, sought to file two complaints in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, each alleging violations of his civil rights by the named defendants. Claiming inability to pay the required filing fees, appellant applied for leave to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). The district court denied both applications initially and on reconsideration, concluding that appellant's affidavit of current income and assets warranted a finding "that the costs of filing and of serving the complaint would not bar access to this court." Our review of the record leads us to conclude that it was an abuse of discretion to deny appellant the relief sought. We therefore reverse and remand both cases for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.
[11] The fee for filing a civil action in the district court is $60. Unless granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis, appellant would have had to pay $120 to file his two complaints. His initial application for such leave listed a monthly income of $181 in welfare benefits, $41 in food stamps, a checking account balance of $59.77 and a 1974 Buick on which he owed $3600. In his motion for reconsideration, plaintiff added that he had debts, largely medical bills, totalling more than $10,000 and that his checking account balance was not additional savings but only a portion of his stated welfare benefits which he used to pay bills.
[12] Section 1915(a) does not require a litigant to demonstrate absolute destitution; no party must be made to choose between abandoning a potentially meritorious claim or foregoing the necessities of life. Adkins v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., Inc., 335 U.S. 331, 339, 93 L. Ed. 43, 69 S. Ct. 85 (1948). Plaintiff's monthly benefits are significantly below poverty level, and his income, minimal bank account balance, and substantial debt reflect greater financial hardship than has been presented in many successful in forma pauperis applications in the Southern District of New York.*fn* We therefore conclude that plaintiff's financial condition warrants in forma pauperis status. See, e.g., In re Smith, 600 F.2d 714, 715-16 (8th Cir. 1979).
[13] In reaching our conclusion we are not unmindful of the mounting concern over the ever-increasing caseload burdening the federal courts, and the growing view that judges must be alert to prevent the dissipation of limited judicial resources on claims that are frivolous or are brought in bad faith. The learned district judge may well have been concerned that granting the relief sought here would accomplish nothing, since the defendants sued appear to be residents of Virginia who would not be subject to the jurisdiction of the Southern District of New York. The statutory scheme recognizes, however, that whether a plaintiff qualifies for in forma pauperis status and whether his claims have merit present two distinct issues. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(a) and (d). See, e.g., Mitchell v. Beaubouef, 581 F.2d 412, 415 (5th Cir. 1978), cert. denied, 441 U.S. 966, 60 L. Ed. 2d 1072, 99 S. Ct. 2416 (1979); Gift Stars, Inc. v. Alexander, 245 F. Supp. 697, 702 (S.D.N.Y. 1965). If the plaintiff demonstrates poverty, he should be permitted to file his complaint in forma pauperis. Then the court may properly consider dismissing the complaint as frivolous.
[14] This two-step procedure is preferred for several reasons. By separately addressing the merits of the complaint, the court affords a plaintiff the opportunity to correct any defects. See Mitchell, supra, 581 F.2d at 416. Also, if the district court orders service and receives the defendant's response, it will benefit from a more complete record and may avoid premature determinations. See, e.g., Fries v. Barnes, 618 F.2d 988, 989 (2d Cir. 1980). Finally, a delineation based on frivolity under § 1915(d) provides a clearer record for appellate review. See Crisafi v. Holland, 211 U.S. App. D.C. 75, 655 F.2d 1305, 1310 (D.C. Cir. 1981).
[15] Reversed and remanded.
[16] Disposition
[17] Reversed and remanded.
[18] Counsel FOOTNOTES
[19] ** Counsel assigned by this Court for purposs of this appeal after another panel of the Court had granted plaintiff leave to appeal in forma pauperis.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Judges Footnotes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[20] *fn* Honorable Edward R. Neaher, Senior District Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, sitting by designation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Opinion Footnotes
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[21] *fn* See Brief for Appellant, Appendix B.
[1] UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT
[2] No. 82-7076, No. 498 -- August Term, 1982
[3] 1983; 701 F.2d 243
[4] decided: February 28, 1983.
[5] CARL D. POTNICK, PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT,
v.
EASTERN STATE HOSPITAL, DEFENDANT-APPELLEE; CARL D. POTNICK, PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT, V. SUFFOLK POLICE, DEFENDANT-APPELLEE
[6] Consolidated appeals from two orders of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, Dudley B. Bonsal, Judge, denying plaintiff-appellant's applications for leave to proceed in forma pauperis.
[7] Thomas J. Moloney, New York, New York, for Plaintiff-Appellant.*fn**
[8] Mansfield and Meskill, Circuit Judges, and Neaher, Senior District Judge.*fn*
[9] Author: Per Curiam
[10] Appellant, as plaintiff pro se, sought to file two complaints in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, each alleging violations of his civil rights by the named defendants. Claiming inability to pay the required filing fees, appellant applied for leave to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to 28 U.S.C. § 1915(a). The district court denied both applications initially and on reconsideration, concluding that appellant's affidavit of current income and assets warranted a finding "that the costs of filing and of serving the complaint would not bar access to this court." Our review of the record leads us to conclude that it was an abuse of discretion to deny appellant the relief sought. We therefore reverse and remand both cases for further proceedings not inconsistent with this opinion.
[11] The fee for filing a civil action in the district court is $60. Unless granted leave to proceed in forma pauperis, appellant would have had to pay $120 to file his two complaints. His initial application for such leave listed a monthly income of $181 in welfare benefits, $41 in food stamps, a checking account balance of $59.77 and a 1974 Buick on which he owed $3600. In his motion for reconsideration, plaintiff added that he had debts, largely medical bills, totalling more than $10,000 and that his checking account balance was not additional savings but only a portion of his stated welfare benefits which he used to pay bills.
[12] Section 1915(a) does not require a litigant to demonstrate absolute destitution; no party must be made to choose between abandoning a potentially meritorious claim or foregoing the necessities of life. Adkins v. E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co., Inc., 335 U.S. 331, 339, 93 L. Ed. 43, 69 S. Ct. 85 (1948). Plaintiff's monthly benefits are significantly below poverty level, and his income, minimal bank account balance, and substantial debt reflect greater financial hardship than has been presented in many successful in forma pauperis applications in the Southern District of New York.*fn* We therefore conclude that plaintiff's financial condition warrants in forma pauperis status. See, e.g., In re Smith, 600 F.2d 714, 715-16 (8th Cir. 1979).
[13] In reaching our conclusion we are not unmindful of the mounting concern over the ever-increasing caseload burdening the federal courts, and the growing view that judges must be alert to prevent the dissipation of limited judicial resources on claims that are frivolous or are brought in bad faith. The learned district judge may well have been concerned that granting the relief sought here would accomplish nothing, since the defendants sued appear to be residents of Virginia who would not be subject to the jurisdiction of the Southern District of New York. The statutory scheme recognizes, however, that whether a plaintiff qualifies for in forma pauperis status and whether his claims have merit present two distinct issues. 28 U.S.C. §§ 1915(a) and (d). See, e.g., Mitchell v. Beaubouef, 581 F.2d 412, 415 (5th Cir. 1978), cert. denied, 441 U.S. 966, 60 L. Ed. 2d 1072, 99 S. Ct. 2416 (1979); Gift Stars, Inc. v. Alexander, 245 F. Supp. 697, 702 (S.D.N.Y. 1965). If the plaintiff demonstrates poverty, he should be permitted to file his complaint in forma pauperis. Then the court may properly consider dismissing the complaint as frivolous.
[14] This two-step procedure is preferred for several reasons. By separately addressing the merits of the complaint, the court affords a plaintiff the opportunity to correct any defects. See Mitchell, supra, 581 F.2d at 416. Also, if the district court orders service and receives the defendant's response, it will benefit from a more complete record and may avoid premature determinations. See, e.g., Fries v. Barnes, 618 F.2d 988, 989 (2d Cir. 1980). Finally, a delineation based on frivolity under § 1915(d) provides a clearer record for appellate review. See Crisafi v. Holland, 211 U.S. App. D.C. 75, 655 F.2d 1305, 1310 (D.C. Cir. 1981).
[15] Reversed and remanded.
[16] Disposition
[17] Reversed and remanded.
[18] Counsel FOOTNOTES
[19] ** Counsel assigned by this Court for purposs of this appeal after another panel of the Court had granted plaintiff leave to appeal in forma pauperis.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Judges Footnotes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[20] *fn* Honorable Edward R. Neaher, Senior District Judge of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, sitting by designation.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Opinion Footnotes
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[21] *fn* See Brief for Appellant, Appendix B.